Hakki-Pikki woman accused of ‘selling daughter’ in Senegal

The Karnataka Hakki-Pikki Budakattu Sanghatane, an organisation representing the Hakki-Pikki tribal community, has alleged that a woman from Chikkamagaluru district, who was on a visit to Senegal in Africa, with her family members, ‘sold her daughter in the foreign land’ before returning home.

The organisation has written to the Chikkamagaluru police seeking action against the accused. Police are questioning the woman, Kranthi, from Bindiga village near Mallenahalli.

Punith Kumar R., State president of the organisation, told The Hindu over the phone that Kranthi, her husband Rajashekhar, and their daughter had gone to Senegal three months ago to sell plant extracts with medicinal value. Rajashekhar returned to India, citing ill-health. About two weeks ago, Kranthi also returned, leaving her daughter behind in Senegal.

“I received information from other Hakki-Pikki people, who were also visiting that country, that the mother [Kranthi] had returned to her native land after ‘selling her daughter’ to a person there. I gathered information, and also informed embassy officials in that country,” Mr. Kumar said.

The girl has since been rescued by the local police, and efforts were on to bring her back to India, he added.

When The Hindu contacted Jitendra Kumar Dayama, Superintendent of Police, Chikkamagaluru, he said he had received a petition from the organisation. “We are questioning the parents of the woman, and collecting information. We will book a case on the charge of human trafficking. I am told the girl is in Senegal and has been rescued. She will return to India. We will record her statement, and proceed further,” the SP said.